Concept, Design and Pitching a Product: The Drywall Axe

Two years ago, after taking a chunk out of his arm while trying to cut drywall, Adam Pauze came up with the plans for an all-in-one tool that includes a utility knife, measuring tape and pencil.
“Anyone who has cut drywall before knows that you can easily cut a four-foot piece with a square (tool), but an eight-foot is much more difficult, holding a knife in one hand and a measuring tape in the other,” the 20-year veteran of the trade said. “I have never invented anything before, but I thought this was a winner right away.”
He worked with a first product development company and after $20,000 spent they didn’t produce a single prototype up to his standards, he was adrift without much of a clue as to what to do next.
He caught a break when a friend got a job painting at the home of the owner of an industrial design/Product development company in King City called Spark Innovations.“After meeting Bob Dickie (owner of Spark Innovations), everything seemed to fall into place,” Adam said. “I just believe in the product. I have shown it to Home Hardware and have a purchase commitment with them and I am meeting with a very large company soon to possibly take it worldwide.”
Although Adam has dreams of making millions with the tool, which he calls the Drywall Axe, he is also realistic and understands just to break even, he must sell 10,000 and make $5 on each.
He also has to take into consideration his big-name business partner, former Montreal Expo Cliff Floyd. Adam and Mr. Floyd are in business together after provided half the cash to have the prototypes done.
The Drywall Axe will be an indispensable tool for years to come, Adam said.Adam Pauze won a Gold Medal of Merit for his display at the Inpex Trade Show in Pittsburgh in May [all graphics prototypes and displays were created by Spark Innovations] and has four companies interested in licensing the Drywall Axe.

Adam also won the “eRa Award” for the “2012 Inventor of the Year” from the Electronic Retailing Association (Leaders in Direct-to-Consumer-Commerce)

At Spark Innovations we are very pleased to have helped Adam Pauze in the development process of his Drywall Axe; and we continue working with Adam developing other ideas and taking them to the market.